The Chronicle has not been sold – Frank Baron

the chronicleProprietor of The Chronicle newspaper, Frank Baron, has denied reports that the publication has been sold.

Speaking to DNO on Tuesday Baron stated that negotiations have only begun with several potential buyers.

“No, no, no …. we are negotiating,” he stressed.

The 90-year-old businessman said the reason for the newspaper being sold is for monetary purposes.

“The reason I want to sell it?” he stated when quizzed as to why he is selling one of the island’s oldest newspapers. “To make money….I want to make more money.”

He remained tight-lipped on the prospective buyers who he is in negotiations with.

The Chronicle was founded by Bishop Phillip Schelfhaut 1909 as the Dominica Chronicle, a bi-weekly publication.

It was eventually named The New Chronicle.

In 1996 The New Chronicle declared bankruptcy after a court judgement against it and was renamed “The Chronicle”

The newspaper is located in Wallhouse.

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44 Comments

  1. storm
    November 20, 2013

    people give Mr. Baron a break. This man has done enough for the development of Dominica. Let Him enjoy his days. back off people

  2. November 20, 2013

    Assuming the buyer is pro-gov’t, it will be a welcome change to the anti-skerrit propaganda we are bombarded with every week. Allowing OTHER more neutral columnists should be the first order of business.

  3. Malgraysa
    November 20, 2013

    Next thing you know we getting gospel according to Philbert.

  4. Anonymous
    November 19, 2013

    wondering Frederick’s take on that, how does he feel about his hero daddy lol

  5. Anonymous
    November 19, 2013

    Well if Skerro agents buys The Chronicle, no more Chronicle for me, even if it is given away for free, since I do not wish to be exposed to Labour Propaganda.

  6. wonderwoman
    November 19, 2013

    The Chronicle must be the most boring and unintelligent newspaper i have ever read, and i have read quite a few. Week after week the same repetitive, nonsensical juvenile, utterances. That’s not a newspaper that’s a rag, fit only for disposing garbbage. It’s a disgrace to have the Chronicle as the main newspaper in Dominica. Things could not get any worse. I for one would definitely welcome a new owner. For the Chronicle has truly lost it’s way.

    • Anonymous
      November 19, 2013

      wonderwomn still exists??

    • trolol
      November 20, 2013

      You love talking crap don’t you? :?:

  7. Anonymous
    November 19, 2013

    Anyway, who buys newspaper anyway when we have DNO… so

    • christian woman
      November 20, 2013

      so true. Thank God for DNO.

  8. Anonymous
    November 19, 2013

    Wait a minute! He is 90 years old and his reason for selling the newspaper is to make more money? Weh Weh Weh!!! whapen he trying to go on a cruise or what?

    • christian woman
      November 20, 2013

      tricks who that man fooling?

  9. FED UP DOMINICAN
    November 19, 2013

    Maybe at last we can expect to buy an actual newspaper.

    No more stories starting on page 1 and continued on page 5 and concluded on page 10. No more pages numbered 1a/b/c.

  10. Not a herd follower
    November 19, 2013

    I am issuing a special plea to all patriotic Dominicans at home and abroad, especially those with have money to invest, who value an independent press and the flourishing of democracy in Dominica to come together to buy the Chronicle, Dominica’s leading newspaper, to save it from becoming the propaganda tool of any political party, especially the ruling DLP. We need to safeguard media democracy in Dominica NOW!

    • trolol
      November 20, 2013

      It’d have to be a profitable investment first.

  11. CIVIL SERVANT
    November 19, 2013

    what labar party bought the chronicle!, en beh look now is propagander, what about those cartoon about skerro, i will miss it.

    • Anonymous
      November 19, 2013

      Oh yes

  12. Anonymous
    November 19, 2013

    maybe now the workers at chronicle will get decent pay.

  13. Foxtrot
    November 19, 2013

    Frank wants more money.Skerrit wants more power. The prospective buyer is Skerrit’s communications adviser. Skerrit is in China. Join the dots. The Chronicle is still a big seller and Skerrit and his communications guru know what they wants to communicate in the paper with elections round the corner. Trust me. If they could they would buy The Sun too.

  14. Rereree
    November 19, 2013

    It had long been rumored that Mr. Baron was approached by a white man purported to be representing the prime minister with a request to buy the newspaper.
    I understand that the asking price had been $500,000.
    Notably, it has been an open secret that Mr. Baron obtained the Chronicle for a song, reportedly less than 20,000 and this is because there was an unwritten understanding that he would hold would hold the Chronicle as a national asset, effectively in trust for the benefit of the people of Dominica.
    I imagine all of this has gone out the window, with money being the sole motivator in the calculation of the former Chief Minister.
    So the larger question has to be whether Mr. Baron feels any moral obligation to uphold the trust that was placed in him when he acquired the newspaper, once referred to as “The Conscience of the Nation”, for a song.
    Or is it all about money, as the article above indicates.
    I am confident that if Mr. Baron had sought a reasonable price someone in the Diaspora would have come forward with a reasonable offer, but alas, this was not to be. Money triumphs citizenship and patriotism.
    The other important issue has be the prime minister’s motives in seeking to buy the Chronicle. We all know that he is not motivated by an overwhelming love for the press, but rather, he seems to be obsessed with controlling the media as a means of consolidating his power. Further evidence of this can be found in the fact that agents of the prime minister reportedly approached the proprietors of Q95 on more than one occasion, to negotiate a sale.
    Thank God, the sale was denied.
    The lesson of these developments is clear: The prime minister has concluded, that if he cannot fight them (the press)the next best thing is to join them and thus have a publication that will build on the propaganda that he is spreading on Kairi FM, DBS, GIS, and God knows, other online publications that are doing his bidding.
    Dominicans: Our democracy is at risk, and the sooner we wake up and smell the coffee, the better.

    • Anonymous
      November 19, 2013

      why didn’t Bubbles buy it?

  15. ??
    November 19, 2013

    DNA, Frank Baron full all you. The paper has already been sold. We know uwp vex but Frank already sealed the deal so don’t bother the man.

  16. Plain Talk
    November 19, 2013

    The Chronicle’s change in fortunes began in December 2009 with Frank’s front page comment denouncing Skerrit jsut before elections. It is to the editor’s credit that the paper remained interesting and relevant despite mounting challenges. This buyout has nothing to do with content or readership; it has to do with politics. If you can’t beat them buy them.

  17. British Citizen
    November 19, 2013

    I will bet my last dollar the Chronicle is long sold come on Frank just be frank with the people.

  18. AA
    November 19, 2013

    8-O What I hearing there nuh?? You 90 years old and you still looking for MORE money?? What happen, you expect to live to see 150 years nuh?? SMDH!

  19. diva
    November 19, 2013

    I mean really the government should bye that wi and create jobes for people. and let it be the Dominica paper everything cannot go to forgingners . I mean Dominica got to own something ………..invest Skerrit invest …for crying out loud……

  20. yout man
    November 19, 2013

    but i jus chec on an i seein d chronicle has been sold to d prime minister media consultant 8-O 8-O 8-O ..watch out dominicans i smell a rat

  21. Malatete
    November 19, 2013

    Traditional newspapers are on the wane, with social media taking over. Advertising revenues are down for the same reason. Whilst I’m a person, who prefers the feel, smell and look of real paper many others are at best indifferent.I guess a revamped Chronicle could have a new lease of life in Dominica if it were to be a free paper, handed out on the streets with its revenue stream coming from advertising, both commercial and personal. Certainly, increased circulation would reduce production costs/unit. I would miss the Chronicle as is but we cannot stop the march of time and the changes that come with it.

    • Not a herd follower
      November 19, 2013

      WHO told you that these changes are in the offing for the Chronicle? You seem to be making premature conclusions.

  22. joko
    November 19, 2013

    money Frank? try again.

  23. Anonymous
    November 19, 2013

    whoever takes over the paper… please do something about the content… its just deplorable… if you want people to buy it you have to cater to them.

  24. Anonymous
    November 19, 2013

    Why would anyone sink their money into that newspaper? Most newspapers are struggling. Frank, if you can get a sucker to unload that newspaper onto, go for it. I would do the same if I were you.

  25. One Love
    November 19, 2013

    If a foreigner buys that paper I stop buying it ; SUN prepare to boost up

    • Anonymous
      November 19, 2013

      Sun?

  26. hmmmm
    November 19, 2013

    he sold it….to a white man…don’t know why he’s saying differently….besides ‘the chronicle’ needs a new look….new style…it’s a very boring and tired newspaper with stale news….let’s hope the new guy can and will give it some flair- so to speak…the current editor needs a makeover as well…i only scan this paper for the classifieds and vacancies…and IF i take my fastness to read any story….it’s filled with grammatical errors…all sorts you can think of. so Frank, you may have just done this establishment a favor…we’ll see!

    • halibot
      November 19, 2013

      then you’re definitely not interested in reading… from Pat Aaron article (even if i disagree most of the times or let’s say everytime :)), Ma Ti Pam, Norris Prevost, Josh Shaw articles… surely there’s enough ‘beff’ to keep u entertained, then you have the now and then articles by former Acting Chief Justice…. and you’re saying it’s tired and boring??? Stale News?? well blame D.N.O for that, cause b4 D.N.O… Chronicle was where we looked for ‘in depth’ news… not Marpin or S.A.T…

    • Not a herd follower
      November 19, 2013

      I definitely agree the journalism of the Chronicle needs significant improvements. I say bring back writers like Dionne Durand for a start. We need fresh perspectives/angles on stories that are already long broadcast before the Chronicle hits the stands. Above all, we need people who can write newspaper stories and articles. The columns should be continued because they add to the social discourse which is necessary for a democracy to thrive. For that last reason, the paper should not be sold to Skerrit and his cabal. If the paper is sold to them, this would be a big blow to democracy in Dominica.

      • Anonymous
        November 19, 2013

        who on earth is dionne durand???

  27. ParoInRoseau
    November 19, 2013

    Make more money? wait am I the only one who read that the man is 90 years old? Frank lets be frank okay! In any case over the last couple of years the chronicle has not been doing so well… based on statistics persons in Dominica does not read as often as they should and when the actual read its not usually hard copy. Persons love to read things electronically and love the user friendly atmosphere where they can comment under various aliases and voice their opinions like we are doing on DNO :lol:

  28. Original Observer
    November 19, 2013

    Has Frank just now come to know who he was dealing with? to suggest quite sarcastically that money is the motivating factor and that he wants to make more money. Who can believe that? If I were to read into this without any knowledge of the background information, I wish to suggest that Frank only got to know about who he was selling to after the news broke on DA Vibes, an online news service that is alleged to be linked to PM Skerrit. Overnight, he must have come under serious pressure from the likes of “Cojones”, “Josh Shaw” “Ma Ti Pam” and the UWP cabal etc. I will not be surprised to hear that a consortium of UWP activists including those in the diaspora will come together and buy it out. We wait and see. “There is never a dull moment in Dominican politics”.

    • hmm
      November 19, 2013

      Why are you speaking like Frank Baron is some kind of fool that he would not know who he was selling to…please!

  29. von
    November 19, 2013

    smh :?: :!:

  30. hahaha
    November 19, 2013

    :lol: :lol: :lol: yea right Frank get real… This is a smart move tho the price will bump up a little more.. and there is only a prospective BUYER. Well you didn’t lie when you said “I want to make more money” that’s why you are denying everything now. :twisted:

  31. Original Observer
    November 19, 2013

    Wow! a stunning revelation indeed.

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